We just like beating Brazil! Wayne, Frank and Fred in the goals as Three Lions roar to victory

Ronaldinho missed a penalty in the first half as Wilshere stole the show`

Now we know why England expected so much of Jack Wilshere, that he is the real deal.

Now, perhaps, Brazil might think England are not just about Wayne Rooney and 10 others.

And as Roy Hodgson and his players found out as much about themselves as they could have hoped for, it felt like a potential turning point on the road to 2014.

As Wembley rose to acclaim Hodgson's side after the first win over Brazil since 1990, the mood had changed.

Not triumphalist or arrogant. Not after a one-off friendly. After all, as each and every England player knows, next month's trip to Montenegro matters more.

But as Theo Walcott had Adriano on toast, giving arguably an even better all-round performance than when he destroyed Croatia in Zagreb five years ago, this was one to remember.

We have waited a long time to see England unpick a proper team. That wait ended as Hodgson's composed, balanced side proved they can hurt top-class opponents.

Veteran Frank Lampard claimed the win with the sweetest of finishes but Hodgson discovered, too, that the kids might just be all right, even if Gary Cahill had to take a crash course in the school of international hard knocks.

And at the heart of everything was the player skipper Steven Gerrard labelled as "scary" on Tuesday.

Fabio Capello wanted to build round Wilshere and this, on his first start since June 2011, was the reason.

Blending naturally with Gerrard, Wilshere injected pace, won the ball fearlessly, created and penetrated, bringing the best from Walcott, Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley.

Two superb goals, chances created, as well as a stunning piece of goalkeeping by Joe Hart, to lay a ghost of England's past to rest in the process, made the feel-good factor.

Yes, there were flaws, mistakes that need to be improved upon. But it is far easier to do that when you have moved the platform up a notch, changed the psychology.

Brazil is the ultimate test and Hodgson's faith in his players to show bravery, conviction and desire was rewarded.

It might not have worked out that way had Ronaldinho done what everybody inside Wembley expected on 19 minutes, when Wilshere, turning away from the former Barcelona man's cross, was adjudged to have handled.

Deadly from 40 yards in Shizuoka in 2002, less so from 12 as Hart plunged to his left to save, reacted brilliantly to bat the loose ball away from Ronaldinho and deserved the fortune when Cleverley wiped out Neymar in the subsequent scramble.

Neymar's pace and the ingenuity of Oscar - making Ashley Cole's 100th England appearance tough - caused problems but the response was there.

The key was Wilshere, dovetailing with Gerrard. But once that key was turned, England were transformed, Rooney great, Walcott, so purposeful, making mincemeat of Barcelona left-back Adriano.

A terrifically weighted pass by Wilshere was stabbed wide by Welbeck - playing on the left - and soon England were in front.

Rooney worked a one-two with Wilshere, who threaded the perfect ball inside Adriano.

Walcott's shot was saved by the Julio Cesar but Rooney steered the rebound home with power and conviction from 16 yards, a 33rd England goal in 79 appearances.

Suddenly Walcott was electrified and while Neymar should have converted Oscar's beautiful ball in from the England left, Wilshere was revelling in his return.

Either side of the break, Cesar - whose early save, echoing Gordon Banks against Pele in 1970 to deny Rooney's downward header was deemed irrelevant by the whistle - denied Walcott and then Gerrard.

Right, said interval arrival Fred, making Cahill pay the full price for running into Luis Fabiano with a left-footer that gave Hart no chance.

Cahill's collywobbles affected his central defensive partner, Chris Smalling's shocking back-pass close to an own goal, Fred clipping the top of the bar with Hart beaten again.

Big questions, answered.

Cahill's diving header was tipped over by Cesar but Walcott now had Adriano on a string, critical as England took the lead again.

A burst of acceleration and another cross that caused mayhem saw Rooney steal the ball and Lampard, who had replaced Cleverley at the interval, sweep his 27th England goal in off the post.